Grainnet

The Biofuels Industry Week in Review ... The Highs and Lows

Corn ethanol is facing its first major challenge.

The industry is in the forefront of a raging debate over rising domestic and worldwide foods prices and food shortages in some countries.

No one seems to be happy with the renewables fuels industry right now...from foreign governments to domestic food companies and livestock producers.

Now, 24 Republican Senators, along with Republican presidential candidate John McClain, are asking the Environmental Protection Agency to ease ethanol and other renewable fuel blend mandates of the 2007 Renewable Fuels Standard.

Despite all the arrows it took in the past week, the industry continues to forge ahead.

Here are some of the highs and lows for the past week:

Highs

• Iowa State Researchers: Gas Prices Would Increase If Ethanol Disappeared

• EPIC Executive Nuernberg: RFS Rollbacks Do Not Fix Food Costs

• UN Official on Food Crisis: No 'Knee-Jerk' Reaction Against Biofuels

• University of Illinois Professor Says Ethanol Not The Cause of Rising Food Prices ... Video (Fox 55)

• President Bush Supports Ethanol Despite Criticism About Food Costs

• IA Senator Grassley: Ethanol Remains Best Alternative to Foreign Oil

• Indiana State Department of Agriculture to Offer E-85 Pump Installation Program

• VeraSun Holds Ceremonial Ground Breaking on April 24 for Oil Extraction System at Aurora, SD Ethanol Plant

• Twenty E-85 Stations Could Open Around Sacramento, CA by Year's End

Lows

• POET Cancels Plans for Ethanol Plant Near Glenville, MN Due to Permit Delays

• Ag Department Chief Economist: Food Prices to Remain High as Ethanol Industry Expands

• Congress Continues to Complain About Ethanol's Contributions to Food Costs

• House Bill Aims to Roll Back Ethanol Incentives

• Congress Eyes Shift From Corn to Cellulosic Ethanol

• TX Sen. Hutchinson Seeks Legislation to Freeze RFS Requirement at 2008 Levels

• TX Sen. Hutchinson Op-Ed: Undoing America's Ethanol Mistake

• Grocers and Food Companies Square Off Against Farmers Over Food Prices and Ethanol Production

• Some Republicans Backing Off Ethanol Support and Mandates

• Texas Requests 50% RFS Waiver